Amine salts for use in gasoline engines

Abstract

Fuel compositions comprising at least 10 ppm by weight of a succinic ester acid amine salt or a succinamide acid amine salt (both “amine salt(s)”). The amine salt is the product of (a) and (b), wherein: (a) is an amine with (i) at least one tertiary nitrogen and (ii) at least one hydroxy alkyl functional group and/or at least one secondary amine functionality; and (b) is a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid/or anhydride. The molar ratio of (a) to (b) may range from 3:1 to 1:3. The fuel composition may comprise gasoline, oxygenate, or mixtures thereof. Methods and uses for reducing carbonaceous deposits in an engine comprising operating the engine using the fuel composition having an amine salt therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuel composition comprising gasoline, oxygenate, or mixtures thereof and a succinic ester acid amine salt or a succinamide acid amine salt (both “amine salt(s)”) that is the product of (a) and (b), wherein:
 (a) is an amine with (i) at least one tertiary nitrogen and (ii) at least one hydroxy alkyl functionality and/or at least one secondary amine functionality; 
 (b) is a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acid and/or anhydride; and 
 
       wherein said amine salt has a concentration of at least 10 ppm by weight, based on a total weight of said fuel composition; and 
       wherein at least a portion of the amine salt has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is hydrogen or a C 1  to C 50  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group; R 4  is a C 1  to C 5  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group; and R 5  and R 6 , are independently a C 1  to C 22  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group, or are moieties which, when taken together, form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring and/or 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is hydrogen or a C 1  to C 50  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group; R 4  and R 7  are independently a C 1  to C 5  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group; and R 5 , R 6 , are independently a C 1  to C 22  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group, or are moieties which, when taken together, form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring, n is 0 or 1, and R 8  and R 9  are independently hydrogen or a C 1  to C 22  linear or branched hydrocarbyl group, or are moieties which, when taken together, form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring. 
     
     
       2. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of (a) to (b) ranges from 3:1 to 1:3. 
     
     
       3. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is a C 8  to C 25  or C 12  to C 16  hydrocarbyl group. 
     
     
       4. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amine salt has the formula (I) and is the product of N-methyldiethanolamine and hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride. 
     
     
       5. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amine salt has the formula (II) and is the product of N1-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-N3,N3-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine and hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride. 
     
     
       6. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amine is an alkoxylated fatty amine. 
     
     
       7. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an alkoxylated fatty amine in addition to the amine used to make the reaction product of the amine salt. 
     
     
       8. The fuel composition of  claim 6  or  7 , wherein said alkoxylated fatty amine has the formula (III): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is a C 4  to C 30  hydrocarbyl group; A 1  and A 2  are individually a C 1  to C 10  alkylene group; and the sum of x and y is an integer of at least 1. 
     
     
       9. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein said amine salt has a concentration of at least 12 ppm, 25 ppm, or 50 ppm, based on a total weight of said fuel composition. 
     
     
       10. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel composition comprises 0.1 vol % to 100 vol % oxygenate, based on a total volume of said fuel composition. 
     
     
       11. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel composition comprises 0.1 vol % to 100 vol % gasoline, based on a total volume of said fuel composition. 
     
     
       12. The fuel composition of  claim 10 , wherein said oxygenate is ethanol. 
     
     
       13. A method of reducing carbonaceous deposits in an engine, said method comprising operating said engine using the fuel composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said amine salt is present in an amount of at least 20 ppm to 100 ppm (keep clean), or at least 100 ppm to 500 ppm (clean-up). 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said engine is an internal combustion gasoline engine. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said internal combustion gasoline engine, is a gasoline direct injection (“GDI”) engine, a port fuel injection (“PFI”) engine, a homogeneous charge compression ignition (“HCCI”) engine, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said amine salt is added to said fuel using an onboard dosing system. 
     
     
       18. The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amine salt has the formula (I) and is the product of N,N-dimethylethanolamine and hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride.